Paid employment and domestic responsibilities in association with well-being among Latina immigrant workers

Immigrant Latinas with limited economic resources provide considerable labor for low-skill industries in the US.  These industries often provide only part-time and contingent work, sporadic hours, and no long-term commitment.  In addition to paid employment, many immigrant Latinas have substantial domestic responsibilities.  Little research has addressed the combined effects of paid low-skill work and domestic work on the health and well-being of Latina immigrants.  The objective of this study is to describe the paid work organization and domestic responsibilities of Latinas with children, and to assess how family structure is an intermediary between work organization and well-being for these Latina workers.  Data are from the systematic analysis of 20 in-depth interviews conducted with Latinas working in North Carolina and who have at least one child <12 years.  Sixteen participants were married or living with a partner.  Most (14) participants worked full-time, with 7 having contingent work.  Participants reported that characteristics from paid work (e.g., excessive work, abusive supervision) and domestic work (e.g., unequal division of housework, household finances) contributed to stress and frustration.  These combined responsibilities limited access to healthy life choices (e.g., healthy diet, physical activity) for the participants and their families.  Some reported that their domestic responsibilities were a buffer to occupational stressors.  Being able to provide for their children made their unfavorable work conditions tolerable.  Additional research is needed to delineate the multiple roles of employed Latina immigrants, how work organization stressors affect their well-being, and how domestic responsibilities amplify and buffer the effects of paid employment.